' CT Wfl  CfSSilTT 

Medical  Mission  SwirecSfansccuoa 

- LiBRARY 

HAINAN 

THE  PHILIPPINE  ISLANDS 


/?^3 


DR.  TONG 

Assistant  at  the  Nodoa  Hospital 


HOSPITALS  IN  HAINAN 


IIoiHOW  (Kiung  (’how). — Hospital;  (lis)iensary. 
XoDOA. — Hospital ; disjionsary. 

Kachek. — Hosj)ital ; ilispensarv. 

Patients  treated  in  H)07,  lo707. 

STAFF 

H.  AI.  .McCandliss,  M.  1). 

Rev.  J.  F.  Kelly,  M.  D. 
s.  L.  Lasell,  H.  D. 

HOSPITALS  IN  THE  PHILIPPINE  ISLANDS 

Iloilo. — Hospital ; dispensary. 

Dumaguete. — Hospital ; dispensary. 

Cebu. — Disiiensary  ; medical  itineration. 

I’atients  treated  in  1907,  12,472. 

STAFF 

.1.  Andrew  Hall.  AI.  D. 

\Vm.  .T.  Langheim,  AI.  D. 

.Tames  A.  Graham,  AI.  H. 

Robert  W.  Carter,  M.  D.  ' 

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MEDICAL  WORK  IN  HAINAN 


HP]  earliest  Protestant  missionary  in  Hainan 
uas  Mr.  C.  C.  Jereiniassen,  wlio  began  medi- 
cal work  at  Hoihow  in  1881.  He  worked 
independently  for  a time,  traveling  around 
the  island,  preaching  and  dispensing  medi- 
cines. In  188d  his  work  was  taken  under 
the  care  of  the  Canton  Mission  and  Dr. 
11.  M.  McCandliss  was  sent  to  the  capital, 
Kiung  Chow,  three  miles  inland.  An  old 
ancestral  hall  was  fitted  up  as  a hospital, 
and  the  jirestige  of  the  physician ’s  success 
was  most  heli)ful  in  gaining  a hearing  for  Christian  teaching. 
In  189?  a hospital  was  built  at  Hoihow,  the  seaport  of  Kiung 
Chow,  and  the  medical  work  centralized  there.  The  foreign 
residents  of  the  city  have  since  shown  their  interest  in  the 
hospital  by  erecting  a pavilion  of  twenty-four  beds  for  women 
and  children.  The  Chinese  merchants  of  Hoihow  gave  the 
money  for  a large  isolation  ward,  and  a wealthy  Chinese 
gentleman  has  given  land  to  enlarge  the  grounds.  Surgical 
wards  with  cement  floors  make  it  possible  to  undertake  serious 
operations. 

Aside  from  the  actual  relief  of  suffering,  the  medical 
work  does  much  good  in  helping  the  people  to  east  off  the 
bondage  of  their  superstitious  beliefs.  None  but  those  who 
have  worked  among  them  can  know  how  heavily  they  are 
burdened  by  their  fear  of  the  dead  and  their  dread  of  evil 
spirits.  Disease,  to  their  minds,  has  nothing  to  do  with  in- 
fection, but  is  caused  by  the  malignit}^  of  some  earth  god 
or  the  displeasure  of  some  ancestor,  who  is  discontented  with 
his  place  of  burial. 

Their  superstitious  observances  are  endless.  If  there  is 
smallpox  in  the  house,  some  ornamented  red  paper  is  pasted 
on  the  outer  wall.  If  there  is  a birth,  a branch  of  wild  i)ine- 
apple  tied  with  red  paper  is  hung  out  at  the  door,  and  none 


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but  the  household  must  enter.  For  twelve  days  no  work  must 
be  done,  no  box  opened,  no  rice  pounded.  None  of  the  fam- 
ily may  engage  in  heavy  labor  lest  the  earth  gods  should  be 
offended  and  smite  the  young  mother. 

Under  every  child’s  bed  is  the  spirit  of  some  old  woman, 
and  every  night  a stick  of  incense  must  be  put  under  the 
bed  as  an  offering.  When  plague  appears,  it  is  the  plague 
spirit  that  comes,  and  the  survivors  must  run  away  and  find 
refuge  elsewhere.  Meanwhile  thieves  and  prowlers  enter  the 
house  and  carry  off  the  clothing  and  furniture,  thus  spread- 
ing the  disease. 


If  there  is  a case  of  fever,  the  priest  must  be  called  to  entreat 
the  fever  god.  If  the  case  is  one  of  dropsy,  the  water  god  must 
be  appealed  to.  If  the  eyes  become  diseased,  there  is  a female  god 
who  has  charge  of  such  matters.  Weak  women  must  seek  the  god 
of  Bak  Nga.  The  insane  must  be  commended  to  the  god  who  sits 
in  the  temple  at  Long  Kee.  Rheumatism  and  neuralgia  are  due  to 
evil  earth  gods.  The  priest  must  write  charms  on  muslin  and  paste 
a piece  on  each  of  the  four  corners  of  the  house,  and  one  on  the 
altar  in  the  center.  These  rags  must  be  sprinkled  daily.* 


Nodoa. — From  Nodoa,  near  the  center  of  the  island,  it 
is  possible  to  reach  the  various  tribes  of  the  interior.  Seven 
dialects  are  spoken  in  the  market,  though  most  of  the  people 
understand  Hainanese.  There  is  here  a large  colony  of 
Hakkas — “guests” — coming  originally  from  the  mainland. 
They  are  a superior  class  of  people,  more  able  and  ambitiouk 
than  the  Hainanese.  Dr.  Tong,  the  valued  assistant  in  the 
hospital,  is  a Hakka.  He  speaks  five  of  the  dialects. 

The  Mary  Henry  Hospital,  built  and  befriended  by  the 
Princeton  Church  of  Philadelphia,  is  usually  overcrowded. 
The  women’s  wards  are  full  to  overflowing  most  of  the  year, 
which  gives  a matchless  opportunity  to  instruct  them  in  the 
Gospel,  and  to  imbue  them  with  some  ideas  of  cleanliness  and 
decent  living.  For  several  years  the  plague  has  raged  in  the 
surrounding  towns,  but  Nodoa  and  Namfong,  where  we  have  a 
dispensary,  have  been  free  from  the  scourge.  Among  the 
patients  in  the  hospital  are  many  military  officers  and  soldiers. 

Kachek,  near  the  coast,  sixty  miles  south  of  Kiung 
Chow,  was  occupied  in  1892.  A hospital,  the  gift  of  Mr.  A. 
W.  Kilborne,  of  Orange,  N.  J.,  was  opened  on  Christmas 
day  of  1907.  Dr.  Bryan  gives  a vivid  descri})tion  of  the 
services  held  with  the  patients  in  the  little  chapel: 

* Dr.  H.  M.  McCandliss  in  Assembly  Herald. 


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On  the  wall  are  the  Ten  Commandments,  the  Creed  and  the 
Lord’s  Prayer.  We  have  a number  of  hymns,  also  made  to  hang 
on  the  wall,  and  point  to  each  character  as  we  sing  it.  We  sing, 
pray,  read  the  Commandments,  Creed  or  Bible,  and  then  talk,  end- 
ing with  another  prayer.  It  is  almost  impossible  to  prepare  a talk 
beforehand,  as  you  have  to  be  guided  by  the  audience.  Sometimes 
there  are  many  who  have  heard  the  Gospel  before;  sometimes  there 
are  only  new  faces,  and  you  must  begin  with,  “God  created  the 
heaven  and  the  earth.”  Our  patients  are  mostly  of  the  poorer  classes, 
with  an  occasional  scholar  or  well-to-do  merchant,  and  while  they 
are  sometimes  noisy  or  inattentive  they  are  seldom  disrespectful. 

Our  service  is  much  more  orderly  than  at  first.  We  have  always 
insisted  on  hats  being  removed;  now,  if  a stranger  comes  in  with 
his  hat  on,  there  is  always  some  one  to  shout  to  him  to  take  it  off. 
It  is  sometimes  troublesome  to  dispose  of  the  hats,  as  they  meas- 
ure two  and  a half  feet  across,  and  in  a crowd  are  hard  to  manipulate. 


MEDICAL  WORK  IN  THE  PHILIPPINE 
ISLANDS 


It  is  less  than  ten  years  since  our  first  missionaries  went 
to  the  Philippines,  and  for  some  time  the  disturbed  state  of 
the  country  prevented  much  traveling  outside  of  Manila.  Phy- 
sicians are  stationed  as  yet  at  only  three  points.  The  first 
medical  work  was  begun  by  Andrew  Hall,  M.  D.,  at  Iloilo, 
where  a small  hospital  of  bamboo,  thatched  with  nipa  leaves, 
was  built  in  1901,  with  money  raised  in  the  place.  Only  a 
few  patients  each  day  ventured  to  come  at  first.  Mrs.  Hall 
welcomed  the  women  and  talked  kindly  to  them  while  they 
awaited  their  turn,  thus  forming  friendships  which  opened 
the  way  for  Christian  influence.  An  excellent  Filipino  as- 
sistant with  his  wife  looked  after  the  patients  and  helped  in 
the  dispensary.  The  little  hospital  did  much  good,  especially 
in  the  serious  outbreak  of  cholera,  1902-1903.  It  is  now  re- 
placed by  the  Sabine  Haines  Memorial  Hospital,  built  with 
funds  given  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  D.  Haines,  of  New  York,  in 
memory  of  their  son.  The  Hon.  Wm.  McKinley,  of  Illinois, 
a member  of  the  Congi-essional  party  accompanying  Secretary 
Taft  in  1905,  also  gave  a large  sum,  and  other  gifts  were 
made  in  Iloilo.  The  total  cost  of  the  building  and  equip- 
ment was  about  twenty  thousand  pesos.  The  hospital  was 
formally  opened  in  March,  1906.  It  is  a very  complete  in- 
stitution, with  rooms  for  private  patients  and  a capacity  of 


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thirty  beds.  The  operating  room  is  thoroughly  modern.  There 
are  quarters  for  the  two  American  nurses  and  for  the  corps 
of  Filipino  nurses  under  training.  Some  of  these  have  been 
at  work  for  more  than  a year  and  have  proved  satisfactory 
and  trustworthy.  There  are  many  diflficulties  to  contend  with, 
but  by  carefully  selecting  those  who  show  special  aptitude, 
there  is  reason  to  believe  that  in  a few  years  we  shall  have 
a force  of  Filipino  nurses  who  may  be  depended  upon. 

Worship  is  conducted  every  morning,  and  all  the  patients 
can  hear  at  least  the  singing.  Testaments  and  gospels  are 
distributed  in  the  wards  and  from  the  dispensary.  Many  have 
become  interested  and  have  afterwards  united  with  the  church, 
and  others  have  had  their  prejudices  overcome  by  the  lo\e 
and  kindness  shown  them. 

The  total  number  of  patients  is  nearly  eight  thousand 
yearly.  The  receipts  have  not  quite  covered  the  expenses,  but 
it  is  hoped  that  they  may  do  so  another  year. 

The  Baptist  Mission  has  proposed  that  instead  of  estab- 
lishing a hospital  of  their  own  in  Iloilo  they  should  unite 
with  us  in  supporting  ours,  thus  providing  an  adequate  force 
of  ])hysicians  and  nurses  and  securing  continuous  service  at 
the  hospital  as  well  as  opportunity  for  district  work.  There 
is  every  reason  to  ho]ie  and  believe  that  this  plan  will  be 
consummated. 

Dumaguete.  — The  Silliman  Institute,  with  its  more  than 
three  hundred  students,  is  situated  at  Dumaguete  on  the  Island 
of  Negros.  For  this  reason  it  is  especially  important  that  a 
physician  should  be  stationed  there.  Dr.  W.  .1.  Langheim, 
arriving  in  1902,  was  appointed  by  the  government  President 
of  the  Provincial  Board  of  Health.  Armed  with  this  author- 
ity he  was  able,  by  watchful  care  and  sanitary  precautions, 
to  save  Dumaguete  from  the  ravages  of  cholera.  Finding  a 
hospital  imperatively  needed,  he  obtained  the  Board’s  ])er- 
mission  to  expend  the  salary  given  him  by  the  government  in 
building  it.  It  contains  three  wards  with  twenty-five  beds, 
an  operating  room,  dispensary  and  laboratory,  with  a ward 
for  cholera  patients.  All  the  funds  were  raised  on  the  field. 
The  presence  of  the  hospital  is  a great  advantage  to  the 
school,  and  Dr.  Langheim ’s  position  under  the  government 
has  given  our  work  prestige  and  influence.  Many  patients 
are  visited  in  their  homes. 

Cebu.' — East  of  Negros  lies  the  Island  of  Cebu,  where 
work  was  opened  in  1902.  From  the  beginning  there  has  been 
more  opposition  here  than  at  any  other  station,  amounting 


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to  serious  persecution,  and  in  one  case  to  actual  murder. 
Nevertheless,  rapid  progress  has  been  made.  In  a single 
year  more  than  six  hundred  {)ersons  were  baptized. 

No  permanent  medical  work  was  established  until  Janu- 
ary, 1906,  on  the  arrival  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  J.  A.  Graham.  A 
new  dispensary  building  was  opened  in  August,  and  the  at- 
tendance has  constantly  increased.  The  ])aticnts  number  about 
five  thousand  yearly.  The  small  fees  received  nearly  pay  all 
expenses.  Mrs.  Graham  helps  in  the  waiting  room,  giving 
out  gospels  and  leaflets  and  explaining  them.  The  number 
of  friends  with  each  sick  person  varies  from  two  to  five,  and 
all  learn  something  of  the  truth.  The  dispensary  is  the  great 
center  of  gos[)el  and  tract  distribution  for  all  parts  of  Cebu, 
and  much  of  Bohol  and  Leyte. 

The  crying  need  here  is  for  a suitable  hospital  and  equip- 
ment. There  are  many  patients  that  need  a doctor ’s  con- 
stant supervision. 

Albay,  in  the  southeast  corner  of  Luzon,  is  the  capital 
of  one  of  the  richest  provinces,  having  a large  trade  in  hem|i. 
The  railroad  soon  to  be  built  through  the  heart  of  the  province 
would  open  to  a medical  missionary  stationed  here  a wide  field 
for  itineration. 


MEDICAL  MISSION  SERIES 


Our  Hospitals  in  Africa. 

Our  Hospitals  in  China. 

Our  Hosi)itals  in  Imlia. 

Our  Hospitals  in  Persia. 

Our  Hos|)itals  in  Hainan  and  the  Philij)pines. 
Our  Hospitals  in  Korea. 

Our  Hospitals  in  Siam. 

Our  Hospitals  in  Syria. 


3 cents  each;  3o  cents  a dozen 
Set  of  eight,  20  cents 


The  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society 
Ot  the  Presbyterian  Church 
501  Witherspoon  Building.  Philadelphia 
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